CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi, I'm currently a junior in high school, and I've been researching colleges. I noticed that some colleges are test-optional or test-blind. Is this common? Do all colleges require the SAT or ACT for …

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I've been involved in my school's choir for a few years now. Just wondering if I can count this as an extracurricular when I apply to colleges? Thanks for your help!

Hi all! I'm a high school junior and I'm curious about what class rank would be considered competitive for Ivy League admissions. I know it can vary by school, but is there a general range? Thanks for …

I'm feeling really stressed about meeting college application deadlines. Are they strict, or do colleges allow some flexibility for late submissions? I'm worried that submitting even slightly late cou …

I'm considering taking a gap year before starting college for personal reasons and to gain some real-world experience. How do colleges usually view gap years, and what factors should I consider before …

Hi there! I'm a junior and I'm trying to decide which AP classes to take next year. I want to challenge myself, but I also want to make sure I'm taking classes that will be beneficial for my college a …

Hi everyone! As a junior, I'm trying to plan what I need to work on to be a strong Ivy League applicant. What are the main areas they focus on during the admissions process? Are there specific things …

I'm trying to decide between taking AP classes at my high school or dual enrolling at a nearby college. Which one is more impressive to college admissions officers? Would doing both be overkill?

Hey everyone! I'm currently a junior and planning on majoring in political science. I've been doing a lot of research to find the best schools for my major, but the information is overwhelming. What f …

Hey there! I'm a high school junior, and my GPA isn't as high as I'd like it to be. Is it still possible for me to get into a good college, or will my lower GPA hold me back? What can I do to improve …

There are so many colleges out there, and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. How did you guys decide which colleges to apply to? Any tips or advice you can share would be really helpful!

Hi all, as I'm writing my college essay, I noticed that I used some abbreviations (e.g., UN for United Nations). Is it okay to use abbreviations like this in my essay, or should I spell everything out …

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I'm trying to plan my senior year schedule. I want to make sure I'm taking the right courses to prepare for college. What types of classes should I be taking to be well-prep …

With the college application season approaching, I'm getting increasingly worried about how to balance college apps with my senior year workload. I'm taking a few AP classes and also have extracurricu …

Hey all, I'm a junior, and I'm trying to figure out what I should focus on before I start applying for colleges. I feel like my GPA and test scores could both use some improvement, but I'm not sure wh …

Hi people, I'm interested in applying to UCLA, but my GPA isn't the greatest. Have any of you been successful in getting accepted despite having a low GPA? If so, can you kindly provide me with some a …

I have a friend who has a felony on their record, and they're worried about how it will affect their ability to get financial aid for college. Does anyone know if it's still possible to receive financ …

Hi everyone! As I'm planning my high school experience, I'm wondering how many extracurricular activities I should be involved in to be competitive for Ivy League admissions. Should I focus on quantit …

Hey guys, I'm a first-generation immigrant and I want to write my college essay about my experiences. Do you have any tips or advice for making my essay stand out? Thanks for your help!

I just got my SAT scores, and I got a 1480. I'm thrilled, but is it good enough for Ivy League admissions? I'm considering schools like Dartmouth and Columbia, and I don't know if my score might hold …